In News:

The UdyamSakhi Portal, launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in March 2018, is helping women entrepreneurs across India start, build, and expand their businesses, fostering self-reliance and economic empowerment.

Objectives and Significance

The portal serves as a one-stop resource for existing and prospective women entrepreneurs, providing information on:

• Financial schemes such as the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), MUDRA, and Trade Receivables e-Discounting System (TReDS).
• Policies, programs, and business plan preparation.
• Nodal offices and supporting organizations of the MSME Ministry across states.

It also updates users on exhibitions, trade fairs, and international events, creating opportunities to connect with markets and expand business reach.

Programmatic Functions

UdyamSakhi provides a comprehensive suite of services, including:

• Entrepreneurship learning tools and guidance for business model creation
• Incubation facilities for nurturing startups
• Training programs for fundraising
• Mentorship support and one-on-one investor interactions
• Market survey support
• Learning and development through education, information, technical assistance, and training

The portal acts as a network for nurturing entrepreneurship, especially for low-cost products and services, enabling women to become self-reliant and self-sufficient.

Outreach and Impact

Since its inception, the portal has seen 4,535 women register, demonstrating its growing impact on women-led entrepreneurship in the MSME sector. Developed with an expenditure of ?43.52 lakh, the portal continues to expand access to resources, guidance, and opportunities for women entrepreneurs nationwide.

In News:

For the first time, scientists have recorded the sliteye shark (Loxodonmacrorhinus) in the Great Chagos Bank, the world’s largest coral atoll in the Indian Ocean. The discovery underscores the hidden biodiversity of the Chagos Archipelago and its Marine Protected Area (MPA), highlighting the ecological importance of deepwater habitats.

About the Sliteye Shark

The sliteye shark is a small-bodied requiem shark in the family Carcharhinidae and is the only species in the genus Loxodon. Named for its distinctive slit-like eyes, the species is adapted to low-light, deepwater environments, though it can also inhabit clear, shallow seas.

• Scientific Name:Loxodonmacrorhinus
• Size: Up to 95 cm in length
• Features: Slender body, long narrow face, large eyes, short furrows at mouth corners, small teeth with protruding tips, absent or rudimentary ridge between dorsal fins, gray coloration with white belly, dark-edged caudal and first dorsal fins
• Distribution: Tropical waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, including countries such as India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, China, Kenya, South Africa, and others between 34°N and 30°S

Discovery in Chagos

• Researchers observed two sliteye sharks at depths of 23–29 metres, just 11 km apart, using Baited Remote Underwater Video systems in deep seagrass habitats on the southern rim of the Great Chagos Bank. These meadows, first mapped in 2016 using satellite tracking of green turtles, support more than 110 fish species and are now confirmed as important for sliteye sharks as well.

Conservation Concerns

• The sliteye shark is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List, with populations projected to decline by approximately 30% over the next 15 years due to heavy fishing pressure.
• The Chagos discovery raises critical questions regarding the species’ abundance, habitat use, and conservation needs.
• The study forms part of a project led by Swansea University in collaboration with international partners, funded by the Bertarelli Foundation, with full findings expected in 2026. The results strengthen the case for protecting deepwater seagrass habitats in the Indian Ocean.

In News:

• A group of 34 students from government schools across India has been selected to participate in the Sakura Science Programme 2025, a prestigious Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science.
• The initiative, implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), provides young learners an opportunity to explore cutting-edge scientific innovations and experience Japanese culture firsthand.

Programme Details

• The 2025 edition of the programme was held, with participants from India, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. The Indian delegation consists of students, hailing from nine states—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Odisha, Puducherry, West Bengal, and the Regional Institute of Education (RIE) demonstration schools in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, and Mysuru. The students will be accompanied by three supervisors.
• The selected students were flagged off at a ceremony at NCERT, New Delhi, hosted by the Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), attended by key officials including Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of DoSEL, Professor Prakash Chandra Agrawal, Joint Director of NCERT, and Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary of DoSEL.

Background and Objectives

Launched globally in 2014, the Sakura Science Programme aims to foster scientific curiosity among youth and promote international collaboration. India joined the programme in 2016, and since then, over 630 Indian students and 90 supervisors have participated.

The programme’s objectives include:

• Developing talented human resources overseas with potential contributions to science and technology innovation.
• Facilitating international brain circulation.
• Promoting continuous collaboration between Japanese and foreign educational and research institutes.
• Strengthening diplomatic relations through science and technology exchanges.

Through short-term visits to Japan, students gain exposure to advanced scientific research, innovation ecosystems, and Japanese culture, fostering both academic growth and cross-cultural understanding.

In News:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially announced that Nepal has eliminated rubella as a public health problem, marking a significant achievement in the country’s fight against vaccine-preventable diseases. Nepal is the sixth country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve rubella elimination, joining Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste.

About Rubella

• Rubella, also known as German measles or three-day measles, is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the Rubella virus, an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus distinct from the measles virus.
• Rubella primarily spreads through coughing, sneezing, or contact with contaminated surfaces, and can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
• While rubella generally causes mild or no symptoms, the hallmark is a spotty red rash starting on the face or behind the ears and spreading to the neck and body.
• Infection during early pregnancy is particularly dangerous, with a 90% chance of virus transmission to the fetus, potentially causing miscarriage, stillbirth, or Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). CRS may result in hearing impairments, eye and heart defects, and lifelong disabilities, including autism, diabetes, and thyroid dysfunction.
• Currently, there is no specific treatment for rubella, and symptoms are generally managed with rest and fever-reducing medications. Prevention through vaccination is key: the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe, highly effective, and provides lifelong protection.

Nepal’s Rubella Elimination Journey

• Nepal introduced the rubella-containing vaccine in its immunization program in 2012, targeting children aged 9 months to 15 years. A second dose was added to the routine immunization schedule in 2016.
• Nationwide campaigns in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024 helped achieve over 95% coverage for at least one dose, despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquakes in 2015 and 2023.
• The country implemented innovative strategies such as observing an “immunization month,” outreach programs for missed children, and incentives for districts to achieve “fully immunized” status. Nepal also strengthened rubella surveillance through a robust laboratory testing algorithm, the first of its kind in the WHO South-East Asia Region.

Regional and Global Recognition

The Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella (SEA-RVC), established in 2016, reviewed data from Nepal’s National Verification Committee and recommended verification of rubella elimination. Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population acknowledged the contribution of government leadership, health workers, volunteers, and communities, alongside support from WHO and Gavi, in achieving this milestone.

The WHO South-East Asia Region initially aimed to eliminate measles and control rubella by 2020, later revising the target to 2023, and finally extending to 2026 due to setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nepal’s early achievement underscores the strength of its national immunization program and serves as a model for other countries in the region.

In News:

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched five free Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses on the SWAYAM portal to equip students with the skills required in the rapidly growing AI-driven economy. These courses aim to enhance employability, promote research and innovation, and provide access to high-quality education for learners across India.

About SWAYAM

SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is India’s indigenous Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform, launched in 2017. It seeks to bridge the digital divide and provide access to education for students across rural and urban areas. The platform hosts courses from Class 9 to post-graduation across disciplines including Engineering, Science, Humanities, Management, Commerce, Arts, Mathematics, and Language.

Courses are delivered in four quadrants:

1. Video lectures
2. Downloadable reading material
3. Self-assessment tests (quizzes and assignments)
4. Online discussion forums

Courses are free of cost, though learners opting for certification must pay a nominal fee. Successful completion is assessed through a proctored examination, and the earned credits can be transferred to a student’s academic record under UGC’s Credit Framework for Online Learning (2016).

National Coordinators of SWAYAM

• AICTE: Self-paced and international courses
• NPTEL: Engineering courses
• UGC: Non-technical post-graduate education
• CEC: Undergraduate education
• NCERT & NIOS: School education
• IGNOU: Out-of-school learners
• IIMB: Management studies
• NITTTR: Teacher training programs
• Institutes of National Importance (INI): Non-technical courses

SWAYAM Plus Platform

SWAYAM Plus, operated by IIT Madras, offers industry-collaborated courses to enhance employability. It focuses on sectors such as Manufacturing, Energy, IT/ITES, Healthcare, Management, Hospitality, and Indian Knowledge Systems, with features like multilingual content (12 Indian languages), AI-enabled guidance, credit recognition, and employment pathways.

Free AI Courses Offered

1. AI/ML Using Python: Covers basics of AI, Machine Learning, Statistics, Linear Algebra, Optimization, Data Visualization, and Python programming. Duration: 36 hours with certification assessment.
2. Cricket Analytics with AI: Introduces sports analytics using Python with cricket as a case study. Offered by IIT Madras. Duration: 25 hours with multiple-choice assessment.
3. AI in Physics: Demonstrates how Machine Learning and Neural Networks can solve real-world physics problems through interactive sessions and lab work. Duration: 45 hours.
4. AI in Accounting: Focused on commerce and management students, explaining applications of AI in accounting practices. Duration: 45 hours with certification assessment.
5. AI in Chemistry: Teaches prediction of molecular properties, reaction modeling, and drug design using AI and Python. Duration: 45 hours, offered by IIT Madras.

These courses exemplify practical applications of AI, such as predicting outcomes from data—for instance, estimating the speed of the next ball in cricket by analyzing past records. They aim to prepare students for careers in technology, innovation, and research, keeping India at the forefront of the AI revolution.